Safety closure cap

ABSTRACT

A safety dispensing closure including first and second, cylindrical, open ended, telescopically engaging members, each having a flange portion and a depending skirt portion. The first tubular member has a skirt diameter sufficient to be placed into the opening in a container to seal the opening. A tubular cap member also having a flange portion and depending skirt portion telescopically engages the second tubular member. Intermediate the flanges of the cap and the second member is a sleeve which is rotatably mounted on and circumscribes the skirt portion of the cap member, the skirt of the cap member and the sleeve including apertures which may be brought into registry to effect communication between the interior of the members and the exterior to permit passage of an object therethrough. The members are provided with interlocking projections and grooves to inhibit axial disengagement of the members one from the other while permitting relative rotational displacement of the members one to the other. Braces extend transversely of each of the members to divide the interior of each of the members, and indicia is applied externally of each of the members to indicate the position of the braces and to insure passage of an object therethrough and out the apertures when desired.

United States Patent 1191 Shulman 1111 Efififlhl 1 SAFETY CLOSURE CAP[76] Inventor: Burt II. Shulman, ,71 Fuller Ave.,

Hyde Park, NY. 12538 1221 Filed: May 2,1973

21 Appl. No.: 356,368

215/9, 222/502 51 1m. (:1. 867d 5/22 [58] Fieldo i Search 222/23, 41,47, 48, 502,

Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Joseph J. RollaAttorney, Agent, or Firm loseph L. Spiegel 57 ABSTRACT A safetydispensing closure including first and second,

cylindrical, open ended, telescopically engaging members, each having aflange portion and a depending skirt portiomThe first tubular member hasa skirt diameter sufficient to be placed into the opening in a containerto seal the opening. A tubular cap member also having a flange portionand depending skirt portion telescopically engages the second tubularmember. Intermediate the flanges of the cap and the second member is asleeve which is rotatably mounted on and circumscribes the skirt portionof the cap member, the skirt of the cap member and the sleeve includingapertures which may be brought into registry to effect ,communicationbetween the interior of the members and the exterior to permit passageof an object therethrough. The members are provided with interlockingprojections and grooves to inhibit axial dis engagement of the membersone from the other while permitting relative rotational displacement ofthe members one to the other.

Braces extend transversely of each of the members to divide the interiorof each of the members, and indicia is applied externally of each of themembers to indicate theposition of the braces and to insure passage ofan object therethrough and out the apertures when desired.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures SAFETY CLOSURE CAP SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAND STATE OF THE PRIOR ART The present invention relates to a safety capor closure and more specifically relates to a safety dispensing closurefor use with containers, more specifically bottles intendedfor thecarrying of pills and the like.

There are numerous examples in the prior art of safety closures intendedfor use on bottles or other containers which dispense tablets or pillswhich, if taken in any quantity, for example by a small child, could beextremelydangerous if not lethal. Some of the closures, for example inthe patent to Johnson, US. Pat. No. 3,445,021 and in the patent toLeopoldi et al. US. Pat. No. 3,684,l 17 describe container caps in whicha combination must be dialed in order for the cap to be removed from thecontainer. While this type of closure is effective, it does necessitatethe proper replacement of the cap on the container. Other safety caps,such as described in the patent to Fadden, US. Pat. No. 3,313,441,provide a safety combination dispensing closure in which, upon alignmentof certain disks in a predetermined position, a tablet or the like maybe dispensed from the interior of the container through aligned holes inthe several disks and out the top of the cap. The Fadden type structurehas a definite advantage inasmuch as the cap is very difficult toremove, one applied to the container, and therefore cannot beinadvertently left off or easily removed from the container such that achild may remove the contents of the container due to the accidentalmisplacement of the cap. However, there are several disadvantages to theFadden type dispensing cap. For example, the Fadden structure requiresthat the bottle be inverted in order to remove a pill, and the pill orother object must be removed through the top of the cap. This leaves anopening on the surface of the cap such that dirt or other foreignmaterial may fall into the first disk and impede the smooth operation ofthe structure, and even contaminate the interior of the container. Inaddition, the Fadden type structure requires a material which may befolded under and around the neck flange or rim of the container. Thismeans special tools are required in order to fasten the cap to thecontainer, and it is difficult if not impossible to reuse the cap.

In view of the above it is a principal object of the present inventionto provide a safety dispensing closure which requires specialmanipulation to enable easy extraction of the contents of a container towhich the dis pensing closure is attached.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel safetydispensing closure which may easily be applied to containers of varioustypes.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a safetydispensing closure which may be easily modified by the insertion of asized annulus which cooperates with the closure so as to impede thepassage therethrough, without proper alignment, of different objectsfrom the container.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a safetydispensing closure in which the outlet orifree or aperture remainscovered until it is desired to remove an object from the dispensingbottle or container.

Other objects and a more complete understanding of the invention may behad by referring to the following specification and claims taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a safety dispensing closureconstructed in accordance with the present in vention and illustratingthe closure in a position for dispensing objects through the cap from acontainer;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view in side elevation of the capillustrated in FIG. I and shown in position in a typical container;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the closure taken along line3-3 of FIG. 2 illustrating certain portions'of the closure in a firstposition to inhibit the dispensing of an object;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2and illustrating the dispensing closure cap of the present invention ina position for permitting passage therethrough of an object from thecontainer; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the dispensing closure capillustrated in FIGS. 1-4.

Referring now to the drawing, and especially FIGS. I and 5 thereof, asafety dispensing closure 10 is illustrated therein. In accordance withthe invention, the parts of the closure are brought together into aninterlocking relationship which permits relative rotation of the variousparts to secure alignment of means inter nally of each of the parts soas to permit objects to pass therethrough. To this end, and referringfirst to FIG. 5, the closure It) comprises a first. open ended tubularbase member lll having a radially projecting flange portion 12 and adepending skirt portion 13, the skirt portion preferably being composedof a material such as plastic, which may be deformed so as to provide aninterference fit in the neck or opening of a container, such as a bottle14 illustrated in phantom in FIG. 2. The fit, of course, should be tightenough so that enough force is required to remove the closure 10 fromthe container to prevent a child from being able to remove the cap.

Telescopically engaging the first tubular member is a second open ended,tubular member i5, also including a radially projecting flange portionl6 and a depending skirt portion l7. As shown best in FIG. 2, the skirtl7 of the second member I5 abuts the interior of the first tubularmember ill. In a like manner, a tubular cap member 18, including aradially extending flange or lip portion 19 and a depending skirtportion 20, telescopically engages the second member 15. As shown, thecap member includes a closed end 39A and a lower open end in the skirtportion 20.

In order to provide egress from the dispensing closure, of objects fromthe container, an aperture or dipensing orifice 21 is provided in theskirt portion 24) of flange 19 of the cup I8 and the flange I6 of thesecond tubular member 15, inhibits axial displacement thereof.Additionally, the sleeve 22 includes at least an axially andcircumferentially extending opening 23 therein, in the illustratedinstance the sleeve merely having a segment removed so as to provide anopening which may register with the aperture 21 in the skirt portion 20of the cap member 18.

In order to inhibit axial displacement of the members, one with respectto the other, means are provided to effect axial engagement of themembers one to the other while permitting relative rotation thereof. Tothis end, and as best illustrated in the drawings, grooves are placed inone of the exterior or interior of the telescopically engaging portionsof the members, the grooves adapted for cooperation with radiallyextending projections in the mating portions of the telescopicallyengaging members. For example, and as best illustrated in FIG. 5, and inthe illustrated instance, the interior of the first tubular or basemember 12 includes a plurality of projections 24 which cooperate withthe mating groove 25 in the exterior of the skirt portion I7 of thesecond tubular member 15. In a like manner, projections 26 located inthe bore of the second member I cooperate with the circumferentiallyextending groove 27 in the skirt portion 29 of the cap member 13. Ofcourse, as set forth above, the projections could be on the skirtportions of the cap and second member with the groove on the interior ofthe second member and base member, Additionally, it should be recognizedthat for ease of assembly it is preferable that the projections have alimited resiliency and flexibility so that the members may be forcedtogether into interlocking relation. Additionally, the particular mannerin which the members cooperate permits relative rotation to occurbetween the members, for purposes which will be more fully explainedhereinafter.

In order to prevent the passage of an object such as a pill out of theaperture 21 and through the opening 23 inadvertently, means are providedto inhibit the passage of an object through the members when the meansare rotationally misaligned while permitting passage of an objecttherethrough when the means are aligned. To this end, and as best shownin FIGS. 3 and 4, object impedance means extend transversely of at leastsome of the members, in the illustrated instance each of the members, toinhibit such object passage through the members and out through theaperture and opening. Preferably, the object impedance means comprisebraces or thin pins which extend across the diameter of each of thetubular members such as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. For example, thefirst tubular or base member I2 has a pin 28 which extends transverselyof the skirt portion I3, adjacent to and underlying the terminal end ofthe skirt portion 17 of the second tubular member 115. In a like manner,the second tubular member I5 has a pin 29 which extends across thediameter of the interior of the skirt portion I7 and inasmuch as it isadjacent the terminal end of the skirt portion, is in close, axialspaced apart relation with respect to the brace or pin 28 in the firsttubular member. As shown, a third such brace or pin 30, in the lowerinterior por tion of the skirt Ztl of the cap member I8, also is inclose axially spaced apart relation with respect to its adjacent brace29. The close or limited axial spacing of the braces 28-30 is importantso as to prevent objects from following a tortuous path and enablingtheir exit through the tubular members when the members are in arotationally misaligned state, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Additionally,the spacing of the tubular members in conjunction with the braces shouldbe such that the only time an object may pass through the tubularmembers and out the aperture 21 is when the braces or pins are insuperimposed aligned relation such as illustrated in FIG. 4.

In order that the relationship may be easily determined by an adult orother mature individual who is attempting to remove an object from thecontainer through the closure, it is desirable that means be provided toenable easy alignment of the object impedance means into a position suchas illustrated in FIG. 4. To this end, the flange portions of each ofthe members, i.e., flanges I2, 16 and I9 are each provided with indicia,in the illustrated instance, knurling 12A, 16A, and 198 respectivelywhich, when aligned, as illustrated in FIG. I, will insure that theobject impedance means are in a position to permit passage therethroughor thereby of an object from the container 14-.

In certain instances where the container is very large and the neck ofthe container is'oversized, requiring a large diameter base or firsttubular member I2, the interference afforded by the object impedancemeans heretofore described may be insufficient to prevent inadvertent oraccidental passage of a pill or other object from the container throughthe aperture 21 and open ing 22. To prevent the inadvertent passage ofsuch, at least one aperture disk or annulus BI may be positionedintermediate two of the members to inhibit the passage therethrough, inconjunction with the object impedance means, of the small objects. Tothis end, and referring to FIG. 5, the annulus 31 includes an aperture32 having an effective diameter larger than the object which is to passtherethrough. In the illustrated instance, the aperture disk or annulus31 is positioned in such a manner as to be sandwiched between the brace28 and the lower terminal end 17A of the skirt 17 of the second tubularmember I5. In operation the annulus or aperture disk serves inconjunction with the braces to limit the effective length or diameterthereof and thereby adjusts the effective size of an object which maypass through themembers and out the aligned apertures.

Thus the safety dispensing closure of the present invention is simple inoperation and yet effective to preventinadvertent passage ofa dangerousobject or medicine such as a pill or the like therethrough effectivelypreventing a child from accidentally receiving a dangerous medication.Additionally, by using the sleeve with the aligned opening therein, thedischarge orifice of the closure may be kept free from contamination anddoes not require complete inversion of the container in order to removean object therefrom.

Although the invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has beenmade only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details ofconstruction and the method of combining parts may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafterclaimed.

What is claimed is:

I. A safety dispensing closure comprising in combi nation:

first and second open ended, telescopically engaging,

tubular members; each of said members having a flange portion anddepending skirt portion; a tubular cap member having a flange portionand depending skirt portion and being in telescopic engagement with saidsecond tubular member; a sleeve rotatably mounted on said skirt portionof said cap member, and positioned intermediate said flange of saidsecond member and said cap member; means to effect axial engagement ofsaid members one to another while permitting relative rotation thereof;means defining an opening in said sleeve and means defining an aperturein the skirt portion of said cap member, said opening and aperture beingalignable in radially superimposed relation to provide communication tothe interior of said members; and object impedance means extendingtransversely of at least some of said members to inhibit the passage ofan object through said members when said means are misaligned and topermit passage of an object therethrough when said means are aligned.

2. A closure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said object impedancemeans extend transversely of each of said members and comprise braces.

3. A closure in accordance with claim 2 wherein said braces extendacross the diameter of each of said members in close, axially spacedapart relation.

4. A closure in accordance with claim 1 including indicia on each ofsaid members to indicate the position of said object impedance means.

5. A closure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means to effectaxial engagement of said members comprises a groove in one of thetelescopically engaging portions of each member and a radially extendingprojection, in registry with said groove, in the other of said portionsof said telescopically engaging members.

6. A closure in accordance with claim 4 wherein said indicia comprisesknurling on said flange portions of said members.

7. A closure in accordance with claim 2 including an annulusintermediate two of said members, said annulus having an aperturetherein larger than an object which is to pass therethrough, andoperative, in conjunction with said braces to limit the effective lengththereof and to thereby adjust the effective size of an object which maypass through said members and out said aligned apertures.

8. A safety dispensing closure comprising in combination: a first, openended tubular base member having a radially projecting flange portionand a depending skirt portion; a second open ended, tubular'membertelescopically engageable in said base member; a tubular cap memberincluding a radially extending flange portion and a depending skirtportion telescopically engageable in said second member, and an aperturein said cap member skirt portion to provide communication with theinterior of said tubular members; a sleeve circumscribing said skirtportion of said cap member and rotatably mounted thereon, said sleeveincluding at least an axially and circumferentially extending openingtherein and dimensioned for registry with said aperture in said skirtportion of said. cap member; and means to inhibit axial displacement ofsaid members one with respect to the other while permitting independentrelative rotational displacement thereof; and brace means in each ofsaid members to divide the interior of said member, and indicia meansexternally of said members to indicate the relative rotational positionof said members whereby said brace means may be brought into axiallyaligned superimposition.

9. A safety dispensing closure in accordance with claim 8 wherein saidmeans to inhibit axial displacement of said members comprises a groovein one of the telescopically engaging portions of each member and aradially extending projection, in registry with said groove, in theother of said portions of said telescopically engaging members.

10. A safety dispensing closure in accordance with claim.9 including anannulus intermediate two of said members, said annulus having anaperture therein larger than an object which is to pass therethrough,and operative, in conjunction with said braces to limit the effectivelength thereof and to thereby adjust the effective size of an objectwhich may pass through said members and out said aligned apertures.

1. A safety dispensing closure comprising in combination: first andsecond open ended, telescopically engaging, tubular members; each ofsaid members having a flange portion and depending skirt portion; atubular cap member having a flange portion and depending skirt portionand being in telescopic engagement with said second tubular member; asleeve rotatably mounted on said skirt portion of said cap member, andpositioned intermediate said flange of said second member and said capmember; means to effect axial engagement of said members one to anotherwhile permitting relative rotation thereof; means defining an opening insaid sleeve and means defining an aperture in the skirt portion of saidcap member, said opening and aperture being alignable in radiallysuperimposeD relation to provide communication to the interior of saidmembers; and object impedance means extending transversely of at leastsome of said members to inhibit the passage of an object through saidmembers when said means are misaligned and to permit passage of anobject therethrough when said means are aligned.
 2. A closure inaccordance with claim 1 wherein said object impedance means extendtransversely of each of said members and comprise braces.
 3. A closurein accordance with claim 2 wherein said braces extend across thediameter of each of said members in close, axially spaced apartrelation.
 4. A closure in accordance with claim 1 including indicia oneach of said members to indicate the position of said object impedancemeans.
 5. A closure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means toeffect axial engagement of said members comprises a groove in one of thetelescopically engaging portions of each member and a radially extendingprojection, in registry with said groove, in the other of said portionsof said telescopically engaging members.
 6. A closure in accordance withclaim 4 wherein said indicia comprises knurling on said flange portionsof said members.
 7. A closure in accordance with claim 2 including anannulus intermediate two of said members, said annulus having anaperture therein larger than an object which is to pass therethrough,and operative, in conjunction with said braces to limit the effectivelength thereof and to thereby adjust the effective size of an objectwhich may pass through said members and out said aligned apertures.
 8. Asafety dispensing closure comprising in combination: a first, open endedtubular base member having a radially projecting flange portion and adepending skirt portion; a second open ended, tubular membertelescopically engageable in said base member; a tubular cap memberincluding a radially extending flange portion and a depending skirtportion telescopically engageable in said second member, and an aperturein said cap member skirt portion to provide communication with theinterior of said tubular members; a sleeve circumscribing said skirtportion of said cap member and rotatably mounted thereon, said sleeveincluding at least an axially and circumferentially extending openingtherein and dimensioned for registry with said aperture in said skirtportion of said cap member; and means to inhibit axial displacement ofsaid members one with respect to the other while permitting independentrelative rotational displacement thereof; and brace means in each ofsaid members to divide the interior of said member, and indicia meansexternally of said members to indicate the relative rotational positionof said members whereby said brace means may be brought into axiallyaligned superimposition.
 9. A safety dispensing closure in accordancewith claim 8 wherein said means to inhibit axial displacement of saidmembers comprises a groove in one of the telescopically engagingportions of each member and a radially extending projection, in registrywith said groove, in the other of said portions of said telescopicallyengaging members.
 10. A safety dispensing closure in accordance withclaim 9 including an annulus intermediate two of said members, saidannulus having an aperture therein larger than an object which is topass therethrough, and operative, in conjunction with said braces tolimit the effective length thereof and to thereby adjust the effectivesize of an object which may pass through said members and out saidaligned apertures.